GOP easily wins January funding race

Republicans raise over $10 million to Dems' $4 million

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WASHINGTON — The Republican National Committee began the month with a 6-1 financial advantage over its Democratic counterpart, with $16.5 million in the bank compared to the Democratic National Committee’s $2.6 million.

The RNC raised $10.5 million in January, according to its monthly report to the Federal Election Commission. The GOP spent $8.7 million, including a $1 million transfer to Senate Republicans’ fund-raising committee and nearly $1 million in telemarketing, according to an analysis by Political Money Line, a nonpartisan campaign finance tracking service.

The DNC raised $4.1 million last month, based on its FEC report. It spent $7.6 million, including a donation of $1.5 million to Virginia Lt. Gov. Timothy Kaine’s campaign for governor and a $1 million transfer to the Senate Democrats’ fund-raising committee.

The disparity between the two national committees in January fund raising illustrates the benefit President Bush’s re-election to the White House can have day to day for his party. However, all is not lost for new DNC Chairman Howard Dean; in the last election cycle, though behind early on, the Democratic National Committee eventually exceeded the RNC in contributions by several million dollars.

Among other party committees filing January reports this week:

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which raises money for House Democrats, began February with $11 million in debt from last year’s elections. It had $1.5 million in the bank as this month began. The DCCC raised $1.5 million and spent $1.7 million in January.

The National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP’s fund-raising committee, reported $2 million on hand. It raised $4.6 million and spent $5.8 million last month. The spending included $3.5 million on phone banks.